The United States are no longer seen as soft opposition and this World Cup may prove to be one of their most fruitful with an interesting blend of talent, experience and youth in Bob Bradley’s squad.
Since the hosting of the 1994 World Cup in the US there has been a revival of “soccerâ€, as the Americans call it. To the detriment of the nation’s domestic leagues, many of their quality players venture to Europe for a higher standard of club competition. Current established internationals such as Tom Howard, Clint Dempsey and Carlos Bocanegra have all crossed the Atlantic to a higher platform, while all-time top goalscorer Landon Donovan spent three months on loan with Everton before returning to Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy.
Qualification for the finals came handily enough for the US. Six wins and two draws from ten matches gained a sufficient amount of points to top their group ahead of Mexico and Honduras, both of whom also secured qualification. Preparation for South Africa hasn’t been ideal thus far as Bob Bradley’s players have lost four of their five friendlies since last November. A clearer picture will be available in friendlies against the Czech Republic, Turkey and Australia in the lead-up to kick-off against England on 12 June in Group C.
England will naturally be the overwhelming favourites to win the group but the US will be no pushovers. They knocked Spain out of the Confederations Cup last year and were only defeated in the final by Brazil having led 2-0 at one stage.
The experience of Bocanegra and Steve Cherundolo in defence, the guile of Donovon and Dempsey in attack and a secret weapon in the form of 20-year-old, Jozy Altidore, could very well mesh together as a tricky proposition for all their group opponents.
Algeria and Slovenia will be looked upon as three-point targets for the US and in order to assert themselves on the world stage they will need to be beat these types without much fuss. In the event that they somehow get a result against England in the opener, then Group C may not be an open and shut case.
Star Player: Landon Donovan
The LA Galaxy forward is in the prime of his career at the age of 28 and is known for a high off-the-ball work rate. A spell on loan with Everton will have improved his awareness of quality opposition and, although he only scored two goals in ten games for the Toffees, the fans took him to their hearts.
Donovan is the leading all-time goalscorer for the US with 42 goals in 121 senior international appearances. If the Americans are to progress from Group C it will be vital that he stays injury-free.
Landon Donovan celebrating one of his 42 international goals
Manager: Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley has ticked most of the boxes for an international manager since his appointment in 2006.
The US boss, who coached MLS sides Chicago Fire, MetroStars and Chivas USA before taking over the Stars and Stripes job, was in charge for last year’s Confederations Cup.
His son, Michael Bradley, is in the World Cup national squad and plays his club football with Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga.
Prediction: Last 16 exit
Returning to the fixtures wall chart to do our calculations we reckon the US will meet Germany in last 16, after finishing second to England in Group C.
That potential fixture will bring its own obvious billing as there is a tiny bit of history between the countries, but the Germans should have their measure.
Odds: 75/1
Irishness rating: 8/10
Before DELL’s withdrawal it would have been closer to a ten but we still have close ties with all things American. The Donovan, Dempsey and Bradley clans are as Irish as soda bread, and we’ll all be flying the star-spangled banner if the States can somehow put one over on England. Altogether now, U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
If they were a car they’d be…
Skoda – Used to be absolutely pathetic but now efficient and even quite admirable.
